We're very pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s Green Man Rising competition is Tony Njoku. Tony will open the Mountain Stage at this year’s festival on Friday 19th August – the same stage that will later feature headline sets from Belle & Sebastian, Laura Marling and James Blake.
The six Green Man Rising finalists played a packed out show at the iconic Dublin Castle on Wednesday in front of a panel of industry judges that included Matt Wilkinson (NME / Beats), Paul Stokes (MOJO), Laura Barton (The Guardian), Tom Ravenscroft (6music), Andy Cook (CAA), Jack Shankly (Domino Records / Weird World), Alice Hogg (United Talent Agency) and our very own Ben Coleman.
We are very grateful to Arts Council Wales and the PRS Foundation for their support of the 2016 Green Man Rising Competition.
Give the six finalists a listen via this playlist and check out their bios below.
Tony Njoku
A British-Nigerian producer who makes strikingly evocative soundscapes, Njoku manages to make even the shortest pop songs sound like epic adventures. Heralded by Fat Cat Records, stand-out track 'To Escape' is a heady mix of layered vocals and swirling electronica.
Oh Sister
The solo project of London's Sarah Berresford, Oh Sister became a fully-fledged band for the release of last year's 'Watch The Water' EP. Crafting spellbinding, folk-like tales of love and loss, Berresford is a truly compelling songwriter with a suitably alluring voice to match.
Oh Peas!
Cardiff's perennial underdog, Oh Peas! has unveiled a string of releases since 2014's wonderful 'Shades Of Intolerance' LP, and her recent 'Difficult Second Chair' album was further proof of the weird-and-wonderful alt-pop gems that Rosie Smith so delightfully dishes up. She is currently working on a collaboration with her musical hero Euros Childs. She's joined on drums by her other musical hero, Nicol Parkinson, from much-loved pop outfit Palomica.
Shark Dentist
Already championed by the likes of Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens, London quartet Shark Dentist make the kind of gleaming garage rock that holds a torch to yesteryear while ploughing, at break-neck speed, in to the future - all while seemingly having the time of their young lives.
Her's
An Anglo-Norwegian duo who met as students in Liverpool, Her's have made a great splash with their two debut tracks, both released this year. Think sun-drenched guitars and Strokes-eseque, grainy vocals and you'll be somewhere close. A very promising prospect indeed.
Alone With Everybody
Often beautiful, always inventive, this French Brother/Sister duo make meticulous psych-pop that drifts between tender moments of escape and something far more energetic. Last year's 'In Sorrow Motion' EP is a great starting point - soft, wistful vocals and numerous instrumental flourishes.
We are very grateful to Arts Council Wales and PRSF for their support of Green Man Rising 2016!
